Sound Transit has named Ron Lewis as its executive director of Design, Engineering and Construction Management (DECM).

Lewis began working with the transit authority by planning the first light-rail segment that now operates between downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport and which the agency says will bolster an aggressive system expansion program.

Prior to his permanent appointment, Lewis had been serving as interim executive director. He will now report to Kimberly Farley, deputy chief executive officer.

Rogoff added that he believes Lewis’ knowledge and skills make him the leader the transit authority needs to successfully complete its upcoming projects.

“I look forward to leading our talented and successful team in delivering light rail, bus rapid transit and expanded Sounder service to our growing cities,” Lewis said. “I’ve always viewed transit as a great equalizer — public infrastructure that connects more people to jobs, education, health care, and the many amenities and opportunities that our region has to offer. Playing a role in making this happen remains a great honor for me.”

Lewis brings two decades of experience at Sound Transit, beginning his tenure as a consultant regarding early light-rail planning and design in 1998. He joined Sound Transit as a DECM staff member in 2002, during which time he provided management oversight of several divisions, including project development, project control, real property and community outreach, the transit authority said.

Throughout the years, Lewis has progressed through positions of further responsibility, including Airport Link project director and interim project director for the Angle Lake Extension to executive project director for Sound Transit’s $3.6 billion East Link Extension.

Before beginning his time with Sound Transit, Lewis worked in the private sector as a Light Rail Corridor Manager and Supervising Transportation Planner at WSP, formerly Parsons Brinckerhoff, as a project manager and senior transportation planner with the city of Seattle, and as a transit planner with King County Metro.

Lewis is also an alumnus of the University of Washington, where he earned both a Master of Science degree in transportation planning and engineering where he holds Bachelor of Science degree in urban planning.